Obregón City Tacos — Restaurant in Williams

I didn’t expect to find salvation in a plate of carne asada, but then again, I never do. That’s the whole point.

Williams, Arizona - a town best known for being the last stop before a hole in the ground they call Grand - offered me something holier: Obregón City Tacos, a name that should be carved into stone and worshipped by the hungry and the hungover alike.

I pulled in dusty, tired, and filled with the kind of existential emptiness you only get somewhere between Flagstaff and your fifth bad cup of gas station coffee. But the scent - smoke, salsa, and seasoning - cut through the malaise like a mezcal machete.

The al pastor? Spit-roasted poetry. Carnitas? A confessional booth made of pork, grease-stained and glorious. Each taco is an act of rebellion against every sad Chipotle burrito you’ve ever settled for.

The salsas are not toppings. They are warnings and invocations. Verde for clarity, roja for reckoning.

This is a place for people who believe that tacos... real tacos... might just save your life, if only for one beautiful, delicious moment.

His holiness Anthony Bourdain would’ve stepped out front to Route 66, lit a cigarette, ordered six more, and...

This is a new spot in Williams. So I tried it out...

First with the atmosphere and service. The place was clean and inviting. The service was super friendly and fast. A very personable experience. I felt like I was family here.

Now to the food... I ordered Tacos Pastor (marinated pork). The flavor was good. the onions and cilantro were fresh. the chiie roja (red salsa) has great flavor and complimented nicely. There's only a few suggestions that I have but nothing major or deal breaker. Double the tortilla on the tacos. The generous amount of food was work to contain while eating, A little less cook time on the pastor. Just might be my preference. Lastly, not so much salsa to go. Maybe ask the customer if they wanted some to go and the style roja / verde. Mine were perfect without it. Save yourself some cost and maybe even pass some savings to the customer... That's always appreciated.

Good food, Great service.... I will be back and I want to try all the different selections.

(sorry no food pick... I got distracted...

You know you are in an authentic Mexican restaurant when the cook in the back is happily singing along with the oom-pa-pa of traditional Mexican music, and the young girl at the counter who takes your order hasn't quite learned how to completely mask her boredom at serving yet another birria taco to yet another tourist who has just wandered in. These are the markers of traditional Mexican food no matter where you go, at least in the good ol' U.S.A.

If your comfort food is slow simmered pork or beef, corn or flour tortillas, rice and beans, maybe a cold bottle of beer to wash it down, this is your place. It's as unfussy as it gets but fills up spirit and soul as well as stomach. Just sit down and eat, listen to the oom-pa-pa and the cook singing, notice the clear distinction between tourists and local Mexican workers, and just smile at the young girl taking your order. She is sweet and attentive, even though the rest of her life calls to her to grow up as fast as possible, as it does to all of us...